Why Do We Fast?

In Christ’s time, a hypocrite was not a person who said one thing and did another. A hypocrite was a play-actor. A small group of men would be able to put on a big production because they would act one way—slumped over, deep voice, a costume—and then quickly change off stage and come back on with a different posture and tone of voice. The same men would play dozens of roles each, yet the audience couldn’t tell the difference. In 3 Nephi 13:16, Christ counsels, “Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” Christ is telling us not to change the way we act in front of people, like a play actor. We need to always be ourselves—be genuine, a steady follower of Christ—no matter if we are fasting, or with our friends, or with our parents. In every circumstance we need to give glory to God and not hide who we are. The Pharisees in the bible may have been going without food, but they did so on the outside just for the sake of appearing righteous to their fellow men. Truly, deep down, they were not fasting for Christ, so they had their reward of looking good to others, but do not gain any extra blessings.

Additionally, my Book of Mormon teacher taught us the significance of fasting. The relationship between our spirit and our body is very delicate and interconnected. When our body is tired, we go to sleep. When our body is hungry, our spirit lets it be fed. Same for when we are thirsty. Our spirit is constantly giving into the requests of the body because when the body is healthy and functioning, so is our spirit. However, after a while, our body starts making demands instead of requests. This upsets the delicate balance between the two. On fast Sunday, our body demands food. We (our spirit) say no. The body is angry and freaks out (so to speak—really, you just consciously refuse to eat food even though your tummy grumbles and you feel hungry). Throughout the day, the body‘s demands turn to requests. “Please feed me?” Our body says, “Nope, not yet. But thanks for reminding me of the purpose of my fast.” As we let our spirit control our physical desires, the body eventually submits to our spirit and by the end of the day is pleading, begging for food and water. And we can finally give in because the balance between the two is restored. We get to go through this process once every month to keep our carnal and physical desires in check. We are more than our biology; we are spiritual beings as well, children of God. Our spirits have power—agency—over our physical body. I know that as we keep this balance in check, we will have more fulfilled and happier lives. I look forward to fast Sunday tomorrow!